Washington: The Sikh-American community has lauded President Barack Obama's push for tougher gun laws in the wake of December massacre of 20 children and six teachers at an elementary school in Connecticut.

The Sikh community supports Obama's initiative to take measures to stop the proliferation of deadly weapons in the American society, said Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh council on Religion and Education (SCORE).

"Too many innocent people have become victims of these senseless killings," said the community leader who was among the invitees at a White House event Wednesday where the President unveiled the most sweeping gun control proposals in two decades.

Urging the Congress to step in and show real leadership in this hour of need, Rajwant Singh said "it's a moral obligation to create safety for all particularly our young ones.

"The Sikh community will observe Feb 5, marking six months of the August shooting at a Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin that left six worshipers dead, as a day of prayers for all victims of gun violence in America and will ask congregants to contact their representatives to support gun control legislation.

Rajwant Singh was among 12 faith leaders, including a representative of the Hindu American Foundation invited to meet Vice President Joe Biden, who headed a task force set up by Obama to examine gun control steps after the Newtown shootings.

Biden's recommendations formed the basis of the package of proposals Obama announced Wednesday. Rajwant Singh he had suggested to Biden a major educational initiative to teach children against indiscriminate violence with a major push at the state and the federal level.

The Sikh community was looking forward to work with the "Obama administration and Congress to find the comprehensive solution that makes our society more secure where we can raise our children free from any fear of violence," he said.